Music Career Talk #21

I took off last week for my birthday and thanks to all my readers who contacted me with H.B. greetings that was so cool. Now on to the business of the day. This blog is all about band agreements or contracts, a written meeting of the minds. Bands often form without an eye or ear to the future until a fight breaks out, someone leaves the band. In some cases there's no problem, other times there's a mess. Let’s start with equipment; amps, transportation, P.A. system, the band name and the list goes on. A band buys gear together because it's an expensive item and chipping in makes it possible. Now a member leaves, how do you handle that? I guess you can give that person their share of the money, based on what they paid at the time and not what the P.A. is worth now. How about the band Van (or truck or what ever) same deal as the P.A. A more difficult situation, lets say the band has (very wisely) hired me to produce their CD, and man that was expensive. Each member contributes towards a lavish recording (just kidding) and now a member has left. The recording is no longer really useful to that person other then a way to showcase their playing. What can be done to be fair to all parties, keep the peace, avoid a law suite (if any one can afford a lawyer) and move on with your life. Here's what should be done, a very simple band agreement covering the "what ifs" and "who gets what" just in case that band brotherhood shield of invincibility should crack like a Thanksgiving walnut (sorry about the sarcasm). I've heard the "dude that will never happen in this band" too many times!! Here are some points to cover in the agreement. Make reference to the band name so after a member has left the band can continue to use the name. Of course if that member has a trademark on the name you will need their permission to use it (get that in writing) or pick a new band name. If there is a recording, promotion campaign, website, vehicle, musical gear any expense that was acquired together there is a way to settle all disputes at the end of the rainbow. One thing to mention is whether that band member has quit or been fired which might affect the agreement. If the band writes songs together then that should have no affect on publishing splits. All of the above mentioned and more needs to be covered in a band agreement. A musical prenuptial if you like. Please don't try this at home on your own, get a lawyer to over see all. Most important: don't be a flake, try to stay TOGETHER. See ya.

Music Career Talk

Hi everyone. I have written 20 blogs so far and hope my readers have gotten some useful information. Today is my birthday so I will take some time for myself and my family. I'll be back next Sunday with a great new blog!!! (I hope).
Take care,
Dito

Music Career Talk #Twenty

So last week we talked about songwriting. This week, "what to do with all these songs you're writing." One thing I always recommend to songwriters is to have other people listen to the songs. Sometimes you write something and think it sounds great, and don't realize you have written a song that already exists. Sometimes a song will stick in your head and part of that song will end up in yours by accident. Not your fault until the lawsuit. It's also good to have other writers hear your music (as long as you have everything protected by copyright) and ask them to be honest with you. So many people come to me with what they think is the best music ever, and it rarely is. Okay so there are several avenues of possibility to explore. Writing for yourself as an artist, writing for others, looking for a publishing deal,and songs for film and T.V. Pick your songwriting career du jour. Before I start, remember songwriting is so competitive and now with the internet your competition is world wide. So if your writing for yourself as the artist figure out who you're writing for (mentioned last weeks blog), who will buy (or download) your music. Once you know your audience you are at least one step in the right direction, but that's just one step. The good thing (if there is any) about this generation of music is you can be independent and still be successful it's an open field today. With record companies being so restrictive and unwilling to develop new artists, the hell with them might as well do it yourself. Just do it right because the majority of artists are spinning their wheels with effort and little substance. The really bad news is there are lots of talented people out there who will never be heard for a multitude of reasons, please don't be one of them. Writing songs for others keeps you as the artist out of the picture which is one thing less to worry about. Writing for other artists lets you write in any direction you want for who ever you want. If you feel you have a song for a particular artist you can contact their manager, publisher, or record company and pitch your songs. There are also people who will do that for you, lawyers, agents, me who ever, just get out there and try. Remember writing for film or T.V. is another story. In a perfect world knowing music supervisors is a home run few of us get to hit. When you record, make sure you always take a T.V. mix (without vocals) of your songs, sometimes the music is perfect for a scene, but not the lyrics. Don't ever be discouraged by getting turned down, most of the people who listen to your music are completely clueless and only have there jobs because of who knows what. Keep writing no matter what, it just takes one song to make it happen, just ask all the one hit wonders who are driving around in their Ferrari's. You can't hide a good song regardless of a poor performance or bad recording, and a bad song is a bad song no matter how you sing it. Good luck.
This blog is dedicated to 9/11 and all the brave souls who went through it.

Music Career Talk 19

This will be a two part blog on songwriting. The first part will be on the act of songwriting and the second part (next Sunday) will be on what to do with your song and or catalog of songs. There are several ways people write songs, first of all some write with others as in a collaboration, maybe one writes the music and one writes the lyrics, or both do both. Finding a great writing partner is like finding a great doctor or auto mechanic, you want to keep that relationship forever. Some writers use an instrument to write, piano, guitar whatever feels right. I have worked with a number of writers who use no instrument, but write melodies and lyrics in their head and come up with great material. So what comes first the chicken or the egg, music or lyrics and does it matter? When you sit down to write it's usually based on some kind of inspiration. Another song you just heard (that doesn't mean stealing)a sunset, love, hate, politics, anything or just a message you want delivered to the world (or one person) through song. If you're writing in hopes of commercial success it's good to know who you're writing for, your audience, who wants to hear what you have to say. What's relevant to the people you're trying to reach. When writing for yourself anything goes, when your writing as a career for yourself or others to record your material there are some guide lines you might want to follow. It's great to be original, but at the same time you need to keep your ears and eyes on what's happening in the market place, and be able to feel where musical trends might be headed. Songs have a formula that consists of intro, verse, sometimes pre-chorus, chorus, bridge, and solos (which can be played over any part of the song) and a means of ending the song in a memorable way. With that said you can mix up these parts anyway you want. Sometimes I like to start a song with the chorus as an intro. When your writing in the contemporary music world there are a few things to keep in mind like don't wait too long for the vocals to come in, no one at a record company wants to hear a 5 min. song, unfortunately long solos are out and the old industry saying "don't bore us, get us to the chorus" is still in affect. Popular music should be easy to remember and easy to like. We all like the "hook" that one part of a song that we wait for every time we listen. The "hook" can be a lyric, a guitar lick or the bad ass chorus that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up (if you have hair on the back of your neck). I tell my clients the best thing they can do for their career's is to write. When you collaborate with other writers make sure you have all the splits worked out, it becomes much more complicated when you're trying to figure out percentages with an $800,000.00 check sitting on the coffee table. Every major artist had their first hit so there's room for us too. We all have the same amount of notes to work with A - G including sharps and flats, it's how we mix them up and arrange them that makes the song. The Beatles said "all you need is love" that sure worked for them.